Office Etiquette : 5 Workplace Do’s And Don’ts

The past two months have marked the beginning of a new phase in my life. The ‘work’ phase! I recently started my internship at a company, and it has been quite an experience already. New people, new environment, and lots of work. Interacting with various kinds of people who respond to different situations in a very distinct way is a little bit overwhelming but might I add, also fun. So here are 5 points about office etiquette that will come in handy at work!

Be Professional:

This seems like a no-brainer but still, many people do not follow it. At work, you are not supposed to openly flirt with people, crack insensitive jokes, and be extremely talkative. This doesn’t mean that you have to be a boring person. Find a balance – crack jokes that will lighten up everyone’s mood without targeting specific co-workers. Co-workers aren’t your ‘buddies’. Respect one another. Compliment people without coming off as a creep. Balance is key.

Don’t Gossip:

Fact is – There’s hardly any office in existence where the co-workers do not gossip. Simple, harmless gossip is okay sometimes. But when the gossip turns to rumor spreading, even bullying – that’s when it gets real bad. Remember that you spend almost all your day in your office and such things negatively affect the atmosphere of the workplace. It becomes a toxic place. Don’t give gossip mongers your precious time. Be kind.

Don’t overshare:

Don’t reveal all about yourself. Keep a distance between your work life and your personal life. Do not reveal your complete life history and details to a co-worker. Make sure the person is trustworthy before sharing anything with them.

Be calm during stressful situations:

Deadlines are everywhere. Also, deadlines suck. So every time your brain is about to push the panic button and you go into your crazy mode – close your eyes, sit quietly for a while and focus on your breathing. Drink some water. Eat something. Go for a walk nearby. Call your loved ones. And then go back to your work. You’ll feel re-energized!

Focus on your objective:

There will be many people around you who will try to demotivate you, distract you and devalue you. All you gotta do is focus on your work, your objective. Set a target for yourself for the day. At the end, when you’ve successfully reached the target, you’ll feel like you had a very productive day and you’ll go home with a smile. Hard work goes a long way. Don’t let anyone take you away from your goals.

So there you have it! A few things I learned from being at work. 🙂 If you have any more ideas, points to add, be sure to write them in the comments below. Happy holidays! 🙂